Combine harvester including a cleaning device to segregate harvested material

ABSTRACT

A combine harvester is disclosed with an infeed arrangement for receiving the harvested material, with a threshing device for degraining the harvested material, and with a cleaning device that is downstream from the threshing device for segregating the harvested material, and thereby separating the grain from the non-grain components. The cleaning device has a sieve device that can rotate about a rotational axis with an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket that extends in a peripheral direction around the rotational axis. Separating the grain from the non-grain components is performed by the cleaning device by superimposing a rotary movement and oscillating movement of the sieve jacket such that the oscillating movement is directed transverse to the rotational axis of the sieve device, wherein the oscillating movement is caused by a segmentation of the sieve jacket in a peripheral direction, and a swinging of each peripheral segment of the sieve jacket about a pivot axis associated with the respective peripheral segment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German PatentApplication No. DE 102017120675.2, filed Sep. 7, 2017, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to an agricultural machine. Morespecifically, the technical field relates to a combine harvester.

BACKGROUND

Combine harvesters (also referred to as combines) typically have one ormore devices following the threshing device which perform the degrainingof the harvested material in order to segregate the harvested materialcomponents separated during threshing. A separating device accordinglymay follow the threshing device, with the separating device removing theportion of freely movable grain from the threshed stream of harvestedmaterial and supplying the remaining straw to the combine choppingdevice. Such a separating device can, for example, be a straw walker ora separating system with one or two rotors installed in the longitudinaldirection. In addition to the separating device, the combine typicallyincludes a cleaning device that is supplied the grain segregated in thethreshing device and/or the separating device. Accordingly, the grainsentrain many non-grain components (e.g., chaff and straw particles) thatare separated from the grain in the cleaning device.

Thus, a plurality of different cleaning devices are used to segregatethe harvested material and thereby separate the grain from non-graincomponents. These are normally based on a combined sifting andwinnowing, i.e., a flow of air blows toward the material for cleaningconsisting of grains and non-grain components. The cleaned grain is thenfed to a combine grain tank, such as, for example, by using a grainelevator.

DE 28 35 899 C2 discloses a combine with a cleaning device, with thecleaning device being based on the principle of rotating cleaning.Specifically, the harvested material to be segregated is fed to arotating sieve device, also termed a sieve rotor, that has asieve-shaped sieve jacket, e.g., provided with sieve holes. The sievejacket has a frustoconical or conical shape, wherein the end with thesmaller cross-section faces the threshing part of the combined threshingand separating device such that the sieve device expands in thedirection of the harvested material flow. While the harvested materialto be segregated is guided through the conical sieve device, the sievedevice rotates about a rotational axis that runs in the drivingdirection of the combine, and hence orthogonal to the direction ofgravity. At the same time, the cleaning device performs an oscillatingmovement parallel to the rotational axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present application is further described in the detailed descriptionwhich follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of exemplary implementation, in which likereference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view of one implementation of thecombine harvester;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a combine harvestercleaning device depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of one implementation of asieve device of the cleaning device from FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a deflection device forperipheral segments of the sieve device from FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of an alternative implementation of asieve device of the cleaning device from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The methods, devices, systems, and other features discussed below may beembodied in a number of different forms. Not all of the depictedcomponents may be required, however, and some implementations mayinclude additional, different, or fewer components from those expresslydescribed in this disclosure. Variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe claims as set forth herein. Further, variations in the processesdescribed, including the addition, deletion, or rearranging and order oflogical operations, may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of the claims as set forth herein.

As discussed in the background, DE 28 35 899 C2 discloses a combine witha rotating sieve device. In this regard, the harvested material to besegregated in DE 28 35 899 C2 is fed not to a substantially flat sievebut rather to the rotating sieve device that has the sieve-shaped sievejacket. Further, the principle of rotating cleaning, such as illustratedin DE 28 35 899 C2, may yield an improved cleaning effect in comparisonto the principle of flat cleaning since the effect of centrifugal forcesis used to segregate grain and non-grain components in addition to theeffect of gravity. Nonetheless, the cleaning effects when using rotatingcleaning may be limited, thereby limiting the performance of the combineharvester.

In one implementation, a combine is disclosed which improves thecleaning effect on the threshed harvested material. In a specificimplementation, a combine is disclosed with an infeed arrangement, athreshing device, and a cleaning device. The infeed arrangement receivesthe harvested material (which may consist of a crop). In oneimplementation, the infeed arrangement receives the harvested material,with the harvested material thereafter being supplied to a downstreamportion of the combine, such as via an inclined conveyor. The threshingdevice threshes the harvested material, thereby degraining the harvestedmaterial. In particular, the threshing device may generate a firstportion of harvested material (which may comprise more grain than straw,such as composed primarily of grain) and a second portion of harvestedmaterial (which may comprise more straw than grain, such as composedprimarily of straw).

Optionally, the second portion of harvested material (which may becomposed primarily of straw) may then be supplied to a downstreamseparating device. In one implementation, the separating device maycomprise a shaker, such as a straw walker, or at least one separatingrotor (such as an axial rotor) for removing freely movable grains fromthe second portion of harvested material. In this way, a third portionof harvested material may be generated that also primarily containsgrain (e.g., more grain than straw).

One or more portions of the harvested material that contain primarilygrain (e.g., more grain than straw), such as the first portion ofharvested material and the third portion of harvested material, may besupplied to the downstream cleaning device. In a first implementation,only the first portion of harvested material is supplied to thedownstream cleaning device. In a second implementation, only the thirdportion of harvested material is supplied to the downstream cleaningdevice. In a third implementation, both the first portion of harvestedmaterial and the third portion of harvested material are supplied to thedownstream cleaning device.

The cleaning device is configured to segregate the harvested material,and thereby separate the grain from the non-grain components. Thecleaning device includes a separating device, such as a sieve device,that can rotate about a rotational axis with a screening jacket thatextends at least partly around a circumference or a periphery around therotational axis (e.g., an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacketthat extends partly or entirely in a peripheral or circumferentialdirection around the rotational axis). Further, segregation by thecleaning device is accomplished by generating a rotary movement and anoscillating movement of the screening jacket (such as the sieve jacketso that the oscillating movement is directed transverse to therotational axis of the sieve device). The oscillating movement may be atleast simultaneous with the rotary movement and may be at least partlytransverse to the rotational axis (such as entirely orthogonal,substantially orthogonal, to the rotational axis). Thus, the sievedevice is one example of a screening device and a sieve jacket is oneexample of a screening jacket. Any discussion below regarding a sievedevice and/or a sieve jacket may be equally applied to the screeningdevice and screening jacket.

For example, the cleaning device may superimpose the rotary movement andoscillating movement of the sieve jacket so that the rotary movement andthe oscillating movement are performed at least partly simultaneously.In a first specific implementation, separate components within thecleaning device may generate the rotary movement and oscillatingmovement, with the net effect of the rotary movement and oscillatingmovement being superimposed on one another. In a second specificimplementation, a single component within the cleaning device maygenerate the rotary movement and oscillating movement.

In this way, the combine performs segregation by superimposing a rotarymovement and oscillating movement (such as a linear oscillatingmovement) of the sieve jacket such that the oscillating movement isdirected or introduced transverse to the rotational axis of the sievedevice. In one implementation, the oscillating movement is directedtransverse to the rotational axis of the sieve device, wherein theoscillating movement is caused by a segmentation of the sieve jacket ina peripheral direction, and a swinging of one, some, or each ofperipheral segments of the sieve jacket about a pivot axis associatedwith the respective peripheral segment. In this regard, the swingingmovement comprises an example of the oscillating movement.

Thus, the oscillating movement may comprise a back-and-forth movement ofat least a part of the sieve jacket. In a first specific implementation,an entirety of the sieve jacket undergoes the oscillating movement. In asecond specific implementation, less than an entirety of the sievejacket undergoes the oscillating movement. Specifically, less than theentirety of the sieve jacket moves back and forth in one and the samedirection. In particular, a plurality of sections of the sieve jacketmay move back and forth at least partly transverse (such as entirelytransverse) to the rotational axis. In the latter oscillating movement,the sections of the sieve jacket, in at least one section of theirmovement, move in an oscillating manner. For example, the sections ofthe sieve jacket may move at least partly toward the rotational axis(such as entirely toward the rotational axis) and at least partly awayfrom or at least partly contrary to the rotational axis (such asdirectly away from or entirely contrary to the rotational axis), whereinthe sections of the sieve jacket move back-and-forth, in particularmainly within the outer radial limit of the sieve jacket. In addition tothe oscillating movement of the sieve jacket, the sieve jacket rotatesabout the rotational axis. In this regard, at least a part (andpotentially all) of the sieve jacket undergo the oscillating movement(e.g., swinging) and the rotational movement at least partlysimultaneously.

In addition to gravity, both centrifugal force as well as accelerationdirected toward the rotational axis may act on the harvested material tobe segregated, such as toward an interior of the sieve jacket and hencecontrary or opposite to the acceleration force directed opposite thecentrifugal force. In one implementation, the sieve device rotatescontinuously. In this implementation, the centrifugal force actscontinuously responsive to the sieve device rotating continuously.Alternatively, the sieve device does not rotate continuously. In oneimplementation, the centrifugal force (responsive to the rotationalmovement) is applied at different times than the oscillating force(responsive to the oscillating movement). For example, the centrifugalforce may be constant (e.g., for at least a predetermined time period),whereas the oscillating force is not constant (e.g., within thepredetermined time period where the centrifugal force is constant andthe sieve device is rotating continuously, the oscillating force is notconstant and varies, such that at different times within thepredetermined time period, the oscillating force is a first oscillatingforce (e.g., zero force) and at other times within the predeterminedtime period, the oscillating force is a second oscillating force that isdifferent from the first oscillating force (e.g., non-zero)). Inparticular, using the oscillating movement transverse to the rotationalaxis, the harvested material may be exposed to brief pulses counter tothe direction of centrifugal force in sync with the oscillatingmovement, which may result in an improvement or an optimization of thesegregation process. Accordingly, using the oscillation-induced pulses(e.g., the swinging-induced pulses), the grains may be thrown furtherinto the interior of the sieve device than the lighter non-graincomponents, wherein the non-grain components are guided out of the sievedevice by an air stream directed toward the harvested material to besegregated, whereas the grains, due to their comparatively heavy weight,initially continue to fall in the direction of gravity despite the airstream, and are then discharged from the sieve device radially throughthe sieve holes in the sieve jacket by the centrifugal force in a stateseparated or cleaned from the non-grain components. In this regard, thecleaning effectiveness may be significantly improved by thesuperimposition of such rotary movement and oscillating movement of thesieve jacket.

In one implementation, the oscillating movement is achieved bysegmenting the sieve jackets in a peripheral direction, e.g., the sievejacket has a plurality of peripheral segments distributed over part orall of its perimeter, with one, some or all of the peripheral segmentsswinging back-and-forth as described. Thus, in a specificimplementation, the sieve jacket is at least partially subject tosegmentation such as one or more parts (e.g., the peripheral segments)of the sieve jacket may be segmented in a peripheral direction. In oneimplementation, the swinging movement comprises a pivoting or flappingmovement, e.g., the peripheral segments move back-and-forth on a pivotaxis associated with the respective peripheral segment. In this case,individual peripheral segments of the sieve jacket distributed over theperimeter of the sieve jacket oscillate, wherein the individualoscillating movements transverse to the rotational axis together formthe overall oscillating movement of the sieve jacket.

In one implementation, the respective pivot axis and the rotational axislie in a common plane. In an alternate implementation, the respectivepivot axis and the rotational axis lie in planes that are orthogonal oroblique to each other. Further, in one implementation, the sieve devicemay include a floor that is orthogonal to the rotational direction(i.e., the direction of rotation).

Various shapes of the sieve jacket and/or the sieve device comprisingthe sieve jacket (and optionally the floor) are contemplated. Forexample, the sieve jacket may be substantially conical, frustoconical,pyramidal, or frustopyramidal. Specifically, the sieve jacket may tapertoward its bottom end or may be at least sectionally substantiallycylindrical, and/or the peripheral segments may be brought into aposition in which the sieve jacket is at least sectionally substantiallyconical, frustoconical, pyramidal or frustopyramidal, wherein the sievejacket tapers toward its bottom end, or is at least sectionallysubstantially cylindrical.

For example, the top opposing end of the sieve jacket in an axialdirection is not closed. Specifically, the harvested material to besegregated may be introduced into the sieve device from above in thedirection of the bottom end, e.g., in the direction of the tapering ofthe sieve jacket. In particular, the non-grain components are removedfrom the sieve device in the opposite direction, e.g., in the directionfrom the bottom to top end. The sieve jacket need not necessarily have awall running at an angle; rather, the sieve jacket may also have acylindrical wall. It is also contemplated for the sieve jacket to have aconical or frustoconical section and a cylindrical section that followsthis axially.

Thus, in one implementation, in their radially outer position, the innersurface of the sieve jacket and/or the inner surface of the peripheralsegments, and/or the respective pivot axis, run obliquely to therotational axis of the sieve device, or run parallel to the rotationalaxis of the sieve device. Further, the peripheral segments may have aflat or curved inner surface, and/or the peripheral segments may have asubstantially rectangular or trapezoidal inner surface.

In one implementation, one, some, or all of the peripheral segments maybe individually exchangeable and/or adjustable. In this manner, theperipheral segments may be optimally adapted to the respective type ofharvested material.

In one implementation, the peripheral segments may overlap each other inthe peripheral direction at their radially outer position.Alternatively, the peripheral segments may terminate with each other ina peripheral direction at their radially outer position.

In one implementation, the peripheral segments are connected with eachother and/or the oscillating movements of the peripheral segments may beexecuted in sync. Thus, in a specific implementation, the oscillatingmovements of the disclosed peripheral segments of the sieve jacket maybe evenly distributed over the perimeter of the sieve jacket can beexecuted synchronously, e.g., all peripheral segments are in theirradially outer position at the same time and/or are at their radiallyinner position at the same time.

In one implementation, the cleaning device may have a supply device tosupply the harvested material into the interior of the sieve device,and/or a fan to generate an airflow through the sieve device. Using thesupply device, the harvested material yet to be segregated may be guidedout of the supply device into the sieve device, such as initially in theregion of the sieve device close to the floor. In one implementation,the supply device has an axial delivery channel for supplying theharvested material into the interior of the sieve device, and arotating, axially running screw conveyor. The fan may generate anairflow in the opposite direction, e.g., from the bottom to the top endof the sieve jacket or the sieve device, whereby the non-graincomponents may be removed from the sieve device.

In one implementation, the cleaning device has a rotating deflective ordiverting device in the interior of the sieve device thatdeflect/diverts and accelerates in a radial direction the harvestedmaterial (which may be introduced via the supply device into the sievedevice) to be segregated. The deflecting device may be positioned in theregion of the floor (such as positioned on the floor) of the sievedevice. The deflecting device may include a rotating delivery platewhich has radially running bars, at least sectionally, on the top side,or a rotating scraper and an associated acceleration plate (with anedge-side bulge. Further, the delivery plate or the scraper may bearranged at an axial distance from the delivery channel, and/or beconnected to rotate conjointly with the screw conveyor.

In one implementation, the disclosed system may create a preferred pathof the flow or respectively the partial flows of the harvested materialduring the segregation process in the cleaning device. For example, thesupply device, the fan, and/or deflecting device may be orientedrelative to the sieve device such that the harvested material is firstintroduced axially in the direction of the bottom end of the sievedevice, and is then deflected radially to the outside in the region ofthe bottom end of the sieve device, then at least part of the harvestedmaterial is conveyed away axially and/or parallel to the inner surfaceof the sieve jacket from the bottom end of the sieve device, whereinfinally, the grain passes through the sieve jacket radially to theoutside and, at the top end of the sieve device, the non-graincomponents are removed therefrom.

In one implementation, the system may be configured such that the resultin the oscillating movement is predetermined relative to the rotationalaxis of the rotatable sieve device, as well as preferred orientations ofthe rotational axis to the direction of gravity. For example, theoscillating movement may be directed orthogonal or at an angle differentfrom 90° to the rotational axis, and/or the rotational axis of the sievedevice may run in the direction of gravity or be oblique to thedirection of gravity.

In one implementation, the radial position of the rotational axis duringthe oscillating movement is fixed relative to the threshing device;accordingly, the rotational axis does not also perform the oscillatingmovement. In this regard, the radial position of the rotational axis ofthe sieve device may be stationary relative to the threshing deviceduring the oscillating movement of the sieve jacket. Alternatively, theradial position of the rotational axis may change corresponding to theoscillating movement, e.g., the rotational axis may also move with theoscillating movement. In a specific implementation, the axial positionof the sieve device is fixed, e.g., the oscillating movement does notcause an axial movement of the sieve device as a whole.

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view ofone implementation of the combine harvester, shown as combine harvester1. Combine harvester 1 depicted in FIG. 1 is configured to processharvested material comprising (or consisting of) a crop 2. Combineharvester 1 (also referred to as combine 1) includes an infeedarrangement 3 configured to receive the harvested material and athreshing device 4 configured to degrain the received harvestedmaterial, whereby a first portion of harvested material primarilycontaining grain and a second portion of harvested material primarilycontaining straw are generated. Combine 1 further includes a cleaningdevice 5 configured to segregate the harvested material after it haspassed through the threshing device 4, whereby the grain from theharvested material is separated from the non-grain components. In oneimplementation, the cleaning process is accomplished by a combinedsifting and winnowing of the harvested material in a rotatable screeningdevice, such as rotatable sieve device 7, which rotates about arotational axis 6. The screening device includes a screening jacket thatextends at least partly (such as entirely around) the periphery orcircumference of the rotational axis 6. For example, the sieve device 7has an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket 8 that extends ina peripheral or circumferential direction around the rotational axis 6.

In one implementation, combine 1 segregates and/or cleans bysuperimposing a rotary movement and linear oscillating movement (e.g., aswinging movement) of the sieve jacket 8, wherein the oscillatingmovement of the sieve jacket 8 is directed transverse to the rotationalaxis 6 of the sieve device 7, and wherein the oscillating movement iscaused by a segmentation of the sieve jacket 8 in a peripheraldirection, and a swinging of each peripheral segment 17 of the sievejacket 8 about a pivot axis 18 associated with the respective peripheralsegment 17. The oscillating movement of the sieve jacket 8 isschematically represented in FIG. 2 by a double arrow 9, and the rotarymovement of the sieve jacket 8 is represented by a curved arrow 10running clockwise. Thus, FIG. 2 depicts a clockwise rotary movement.Alternatively, a counter-clockwise rotary movement may be performed. Asuperimposition of the rotary movement and the oscillating movement ofthe sieve jacket 8 directed transverse to the rotational axis 6 mayimprove the cleaning effect of the cleaning device 5 since thesegregation of the grain and non-grain components may be improved oroptimized. Accordingly, the harvested material to be segregated in thesieve device 7 is exposed not just to gravity G and rotation-inducedcentrifugal force, but also to oscillation-induced force that repeatedlyacts radially to the inside and hence counter to centrifugal force(e.g., at least in part, the oscillation-induced force acts counter tothe centrifugal force). The combination of the different forces actingon the harvested material leads to an improved and faster separation ofthe grain and non-grain components, and thereby increases the grainthroughput of the cleaning device 5.

The infeed arrangement 3 can be an attachment arrangement 11 that, asportrayed in FIG. 1, has a cutting system 12 comprising a reel, cutterbar and auger as well as an inclined conveyor 13, wherein the inclinedconveyor 13 conveys toward the threshing device 4 the cut and collectedharvested material as a harvested material stream for further processingin the combine 1. Other attachment arrangements are contemplated.

The threshing device 4 may comprise a threshing drum and threshingconcave and may have a drive axis that is orthogonal in this case to thedriving direction. Alternatively, the drive axis may be aligned axiallyor in the driving direction. The threshing device 4 is configured toseparate the grain from the straw in the harvested material, wherein thecorresponding harvested material portion primarily containing grain issupplied by the threshing device 4 directly to the downstream cleaningdevice 5, whereas the corresponding harvested material portion primarilycontaining straw is supplied in this case and preferably afterward to aseparating device 14 that, for example via a straw walker or an axialrotor, separates freely movable grains from the harvested materialportion primarily containing straw. The remaining straw may then beejected at the rear end of the combine 1. The remaining harvestedmaterial portion primarily containing grain that is generated in theseparating device 14 may then also be supplied to the cleaning device 5and, together with the harvested material portion primarily containinggrain which is directly supplied by the threshing device 4, may beguided into the rotating sieve device 7.

After the harvested material is segregated in the cleaning device 5, thenon-grain components are also ejected at the rear end of the harvester1, whereas the cleaned grain is supplied to a grain tank 16 of thecombine 1 via a grain elevator 15.

Different types of oscillating movement are contemplated, such asillustrated in FIGS. 2-5. In one implementation, the radial position ofthe rotational axis 6 does not change relative to the combine 1 duringthe oscillating movement of the sieve jacket 8 (e.g., the rotationalaxis 6 therefore does not also oscillate). As discussed previously, thesieve jacket 8 has a plurality of peripheral segments 17 distributedover its periphery, with each one undergoing an oscillating movementtransverse to the rotational axis 6 between a radially outer positionand a radially inner position portrayed in FIGS. 3-5 by the doublearrows 9′. The peripheral segments 17 may be exchangeable and/oradjustable depending on the harvested material, which has the additionaladvantage that only one peripheral segment 17 need be exchanged, and notthe entire sieve jacket 8, when there is a defect in one section of theperiphery or perimeter of the sieve jacket 8. The sum of the oscillatingmovements of the individual peripheral segments 17 (double arrows 9′)may then yield the overall oscillating movement of the sieve jacket 8(double arrow 9). Alternatively, the rotational axis 6 may additionallymove back-and-forth transverse to the axial direction, e.g., so that therotational axis may also oscillate.

The oscillating movement of the sieve jacket 8 may be exclusivelytransverse to the rotational axis 6, wherein the axial position of thesieve device 7 and/or the sieve jacket 8 does not change. In particularwith a substantially conical, frustoconical, pyramidal orfrustopyramidal sieve jacket 8, the latter does not prevent theperipheral segments 17 from also moving at least sectionally in adirection with an axial component in their oscillating movement. Theframe of the sieve jacket 8 or the sieve device 7 holding the peripheralsegments 17 and the axial bearing of the sieve jacket 8 or the sievedevice 7 may then still be stationary, however.

As discussed above, various oscillating movements are contemplated. In afirst implementation, an oscillating movement “transverse” to therotational axis 6 may comprise an oscillating movement orthogonal to therotational axis 6. In a second implementation, an oscillating movement“transverse” to the rotational axis 6 may comprise an oscillatingmovement at an angle different from 90° to the rotational axis 6. In athird implementation, an oscillating movement “transverse” to therotational axis 6 may comprise both an oscillating movement orthogonalto the rotational axis 6 as well as an oscillating movement at an angledifferent from 90° to the rotational axis 6. In the case where theoscillating movement is at an angle different from 90° to the rotationalaxis 6 (e.g., with an oscillating movement running obliquely to therotational axis 6), the oscillating movement may travel in a firstexample at an angle within a range of 50 to 80° to the rotational axis6, in a second example at an angle within a range of 55 to 70° to therotational axis 6, or in a third example at an angle within a range of60 to 65° to the rotational axis 6.

As shown for example in FIG. 2, the rotational axis 6 of the sievedevice 7 travels, for example, in the direction of gravity G.Alternatively, the cleaning device may be configured such that therotational axis 6 is oblique relative to the direction of gravity G. Forexample, the rotational axis 6 may move in a first example at an anglewithin a range of 30 to 60° to the direction of gravity G, in a secondexample at an angle within a range of 35 to 55° to the direction ofgravity G, in a third example at an angle within a range of 40 to 50° tothe direction of gravity G, or in a fourth example at an angle of 45°relative to the direction of gravity G.

In one implementation, the oscillating movements of the peripheralsegments 17 may move synchronously or simultaneously, wherein thesynchrony or simultaneity may be achieved based on connection of theperipheral segments 17 together (e.g., hinging the peripheral segmentstogether). For example, adjacent peripheral segments 17 may be directlyconnected to each other. Alternatively, movement of the peripheralsegments synchronously may be achieved by a common deflection device 27(illustrated in FIG. 4) that moves all peripheral segments 17simultaneously.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, peripheral segments 17 may swing aboutpivot axis 18. The pivot axis 18 may traverse or go through differentsections of the peripheral segments. For example, as shown in FIG. 4,the pivot axis traverses or goes through a first edge section 32, whichis a section at or near a first edge of a respective peripheral segment17. Opposite the first edge section 32 is a second edge section 33,which is a section at or near a second edge (opposite the first edge) ofa respective peripheral segment 17. Further, one, some or all of theperipheral segments 17 may have the respective pivot axis through thefirst edge section 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, each respectiveperipheral segment is attached to at least two adjacent peripheralsegments at the first edge section. In operation, the second edgesection 33 swings or moves more than the first edge section. Further,connecting rods 27 b, discussed below, may connect to a section of therespective peripheral segment 17. It is contemplated that the connectingrods 27 b may connect to various sections of the respective peripheralsegment 17, such as at bottom section 34 of the respective peripheralsegment 17. In one implementation, the bottom section 34 of therespective peripheral segment 17 is proximate to the floor 19 of thecleaning device.

In principle, the deflection device 27 may also cause a phase shift (orphase offset) or have a different a middle position than the sievejacket 8, whereby the peripheral segment 17 may also be moved atdifferent points in time. The peripheral segments 17 may each bepivotably mounted about a pivot axis 18 assigned to each peripheralsegment 17. With the implementation illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, therespective pivot axes 18 of all peripheral segments 17 and therotational axis 6 all run in a common plane. Alternatively, the pivotaxes 18 and the rotational axis 6 are in planes that are each orthogonalto each other, such as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5.

The deflection device 27, schematically shown in FIG. 4 that causes theoscillating pivoting movement of the individual peripheral segments 17,may comprise a deflection drive 27 a that oscillates independently ofthe rotary movement of the sieve device 7 about the rotational axis 6.One form of the deflection device 27 comprises an oscillating rotatabledrive pulley, as well as a connecting means, such as connecting rods 27b that connect the deflection drive 27 a to the peripheral segments 17.An oscillating rotary movement of the deflection drive 27 a, portrayedin FIG. 4 as a curved double arrow 28, then causes the oscillating pivotmovement of the peripheral segments 17 represented by the double arrow9′. Specifically, one, some or all of the connecting rods 27 b areconnected to the oscillating rotary movement of the deflection drive 27a and follow the oscillating rotary movement, which is represented inFIG. 4 by a double arrow 29, in order to cause the oscillating pivotmovement of the peripheral segments 17. For clarity, only one of theconnecting rods 27 b is portrayed in FIG. 4; however, a plurality ofconnecting rods 27 b may be distributed (such as evenly distributed overthe entire perimeter). For example, one connecting rod 27 b may bepositioned for each peripheral segment 17.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the sieve jacket 8 may be formedsectionally or entirely substantially frustoconical. For example, it iscontemplated that the sieve jacket is at least sectionally or entirelysubstantially cone-shaped (conical), pyramidal or frustopyramidal inshape. In these cases, the sieve jacket 8 may taper from its top end toits bottom end at which a floor 19 can be provided. Alternatively, thesieve jacket 8 may be designed sectionally or completely substantiallycylindrical. In one implementation, “substantially” may mean that theradially outer and/or inner surface of the sieve jacket 8 may also haveminor deviations from a purely substantially conical, frustoconical,pyramidal, or frustopyramidal surface contour which are caused inparticular by overlaps of the peripheral segments 17 as FIG. 3illustrates. Accordingly, in one implementation, the peripheral segments17 may overlap each other in the peripheral direction at their radiallyouter position. On the one hand, an overlap has the advantage ofreducing gap losses, e.g., the harvested material and in particular thenon-grain components cannot readily escape from the sieve device 7 undercentrifugal force through the arising gap between the adjacentperipheral segments 17. Moreover, an overlap ensures that no dead zonesarise (only a rotational movement of the sieve jacket 8 without amovement component directed toward the rotational axis 6) that wouldprevent a breaking up of the mat of material at this location. Further,the slip between the harvested material and the sieve jacket 8 may notvary in such a dead zone, e.g., movement trajectories of the grains maybe shorter along with the dwell time in the sieve device 7. In thisregard, an overlap may improve the cleaning performance.

The sieve jacket 8 need not permanently have the described shape, suchas a conical shape or cylindrical shape; instead, in one implementation,the sieve jacket 8 is the described shape at least in the state in whichits peripheral segments 17 are in their radially outer position. Inparticular, the inner surface of the sieve jacket 8 and/or the innersurface of the peripheral segments 17 may run obliquely to or toward therotational axis 6 in their radially outward position, in particular witha conical, frustoconical, pyramidal, or frustopyramidal shape, orparallel to the rotational axis 6, in particular with a cylindricalshape. The same also holds true for the respective pivot axes 18 of theperipheral segments 17 that may also run obliquely to the rotationalaxis 6, in particular with a conical, frustoconical, pyramidal, orfrustopyramidal shape, or parallel to the rotational axis 6, inparticular with a cylindrical shape.

The peripheral segments 17 may have a flat inner and/or outer surface ora curved inner and/or outer surface. In this case, the outer surface mayhave a curve such that the perimeter of the sieve jacket 8 issubstantially uniformly round. Thus, depending on the shape of the sievejacket 8, the peripheral segments may be substantially trapezoidal (seeFIGS. 3 and 5) or substantially rectangular. In one implementation, theperipheral segments 17 may be evenly distributed over the perimeter andform in particular a rotationally symmetrical sieve jacket 8, such as afifteen-sided rotationally symmetrical sieve jacket 8 according to FIG.3.

FIG. 2 also portrays a supply device 20 configured to supply theharvested material into the interior of the sieve device 7, as well as afan 21 (such as a suction fan), for generating an air stream 21 a, whichmay blow through at least a part of the sieve device 7 (such asobliquely upward from below through the sieve device 7). Alternatively,or in addition, a rotating deflecting device 22 may be included todeflect and accelerate the harvested material in a radial direction thatis introduced by means of the supply device 20 into the sieve device 7.

In one implementation, the supply device 20 has a delivery channel 23which conveys material in an axial direction. In the interior of thedelivery channel 23, a screw conveyor 24 (such as an auger) may beprovided. The screw conveyor 24 is positioned to rotate in apredetermined direction, such as in a direction that is counter oropposite to the rotary movement of the sieve jacket 8 or the sievedevice 7. Alternatively, the screw conveyor 24 may rotate in the samedirection as the sieve jacket 8 or the sieve device 7. The rotarymovement of the screw conveyor 24 is depicted in this case as curvedarrow 25 running counterclockwise. The screw conveyor 24 conveys theharvested material to be segregated in an axial direction from the topend of the sieve device 7 in the direction of the bottom end of thesieve device 7.

At the bottom end of the delivery channel 23, the harvested material maythen be discharged into the rotating sieve device 7, wherein theharvested material in this case first contacts the rotating deflectingdevice 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the deflecting device 22may be a distribution plate 22 a, which may have radially running bars22 b, along at least a section of a part of the deflection device, suchas at least sectionally on the top or side. Alternatively, thedeflection device may comprise an acceleration plate with edge-sidebulges, protrusions or jutting portions, which may be combined with ascraper. In a first alternate implementation, the deflecting device 22may comprise a flat baffle plate. In a second alternate implementation,the floor 19 of the sieve device 7 may comprise the deflecting device22. The distribution plate 22 a or the scraper may be arranged at anaxial distance from the delivery channel 23, and, in this case, mayrotate in the same direction as the sieve jacket 8 to prevent theharvested material from decelerating once it contacts the sieve jacket8.

From the deflecting device 22, the harvested material may be pressedradially to the outside against the sieve jacket 8 under centrifugalforce. In particular, the harvested material may be regularly thrown tothe outside against the sieve jacket 8 in the direction of therotational axis 6 by the oscillating movement, such as the peripheralsegments 17. Due to this pulse-like movement of the harvested materialby the sieve jacket 8 in the direction of the rotational axis 6, thegrain may be separated from the non-grain components since the grainshave a greater weight than the non-grain components. The air streamgenerated by the fan 21 may then impact the non-grain components,sending the non-grain components upward out of the sieve device 7,whereas the grains may again fall to the floor 19 in the direction ofgravity G. From here, the grains may then flow under centrifugal forceand freed of the non-grain components through the sieve holes in thesieve jacket 8 radially to the outside and, as described above, may berouted onward to the grain elevator 15.

Thus, the supply device 20, the fan 21 and deflecting device 22 may bepositioned relative to the sieve device 7 such that the harvestedmaterial is first introduced axially in the direction of the bottom endor floor 19 of the sieve device 7, and is then deflected and acceleratedradially to the outside in the region of the bottom end or floor 19. Atleast part of the harvested material may then be conveyed away axiallyand/or parallel to the inner surface of the sieve jacket 8 from thebottom end or the floor 19, for which a certain slip is provided betweenthe inner surface of the sieve jacket 8 and the mat of material. Inparticular, this allows an “upward creep” of the mat of material on theinner surface of the sieve jacket 8, whereby the grains have differentfall heights or fall levels when they are thrown or directed into theinterior of the sieve device 7 by the oscillating movement. Finally, thegrain passes through the sieve jacket 8 radially to the outside, and thenon-grain components are removed at the top end facing away from thefloor out of the sieve device 7, such as primarily in an axialdirection, and may also to a lesser degree in a radial direction. Toillustrate the material flows, the harvested material introduced intothe sieve device 7 is designated EG in FIG. 2, the purified grain isdesignated K, and the separated non-grain components are designated NKB.

The sieve jacket 8 may, for example, have an axial extension which inthis case defines the height as a first example within a range of 0.70to 1.30 m, as a second example within a range of 0.80 to 1.20 m, or as athird example within a range of 0.90 to 1.10 m. The maximum innerdiameter of the sieve jacket 8 at the bottom end of the sieve device 7lies as a first example within a range of 0.50 to 1.10 m, as a secondexample within a range of 0.60 to 1.00 m, or as a third example within arange of 0.70 to 0.90 m. At the top end, the maximum inner diameter ofthe sieve jacket 8 can lie as a first example within a range of 1.40 to2.00 m, as a second example within a range of 1.50 to 1.90 m, or as athird example within a range of 1.60 to 1.80 m. Given an angular ornon-circular sieve jacket 8, the maximum inner diameter may mean thegreatest extension orthogonal to the rotational axis 6 and runningthrough the rotational axis 6.

In their oscillating movement, the pivoting angle of the peripheralsegments 17 can lie as a first example within a range of 1 to 15°, as asecond example within a range of 1 to 10°, or as a third example withina range of 3 to 6°. The pivot path of the end of the peripheral segment17 distant from the pivot axis, e.g., the section of the peripheralsegment 17 that traverses the greatest path in the oscillating movement,lies as a first example within a range of 10 to 200 mm, as a secondexample within a range of 30 to 150 mm, or as a third example within arange of 40 to 140 mm.

Various kinematic parameter ranges of the cleaning device and/or thesieve device are contemplated. The control device 26 of combine 1 maycontrol and/or adjust the kinematic parameter ranges of the cleaningdevice 5 and/or sieve device 7. Specifically, control device 26 mayinclude a microprocessor 30 and a storage medium 31. The microprocessor30 may comprise a type of controller, such as processor, amicrocontroller, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC),Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA), or the like. Storage medium 31 may comprise one or more types ofstorage medium, such as volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory.Further, microprocessor 30 and storage medium 31 may be separatedevices, communicating via an external bus. Alternatively,microprocessor 30 and storage medium 31 may be within the same device,communicating via an internal bus. Logic, such the functionalitydescribed here, may be implemented in software stored in storage medium31 and/or stored within microprocessor 30. For example, the logic ofcontrol device in controlling the cleaning device may be implemented insoftware and may be configured to control one or more aspects of thecleaning device as described herein.

During a typical or normal operation of the cleaning device 5, therotational speed of the sieve device 7 lies as a first example within arange of 50 to 250 RPM, as a second example within a range of 50 to 200RPM, or as a third example within a range of 100 to 150 RPM. Thefrequency of the oscillating movement of the sieve jacket 8 or theperipheral segments 17 lies as a first example within a range of 1 to 30Hz, as a second example within a range of 1 to 15 Hz, or as a thirdexample within a range of 5 to 10 Hz. The rotational speed of thedeflecting device 22 is may be adjusted as a first example to a valuewithin a range of 100 to 300 RPM, as a second example to a value withina range of 100 to 250 RPM, or as a third example to a value within arange of 150 to 200 RPM. In one implementation, the rotational speed ofthe deflecting device 22 may be greater than the rotational speed of thesieve device 7 or the sieve jacket 8. The fan 21 may be adjusted so thatthe rotational speed of the impeller of the fan lies as a first examplewithin a range of 150 to 350 RPM, as a second example within a range of200 to 350 RPM, or as a third example within a range of 250 to 300 RPM.The flow speed of the fan may lie as a first example within a range of0.5 to 2.5 m/s, as a second example within a range of 0.5 to 2.0 m/s, oras a third example within a range of 1.0 to 1.5 m/s.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

-   -   1 Combine    -   2 Crop    -   3 Infeed arrangement    -   4 Threshing device    -   5 Cleaning device    -   6 Rotational axis    -   7 Sieve device    -   8 Sieve jacket    -   9 Arrow for the oscillating movement of the sieve jacket    -   9′ Arrow for the oscillating movement of the peripheral segments    -   10 Arrow for the rotating movement of the sieve jacket    -   11 Attachment arrangement    -   12 Cutting system    -   13 Inclined conveyor    -   14 Separating device    -   15 Grain elevator    -   16 Grain tank    -   17 Peripheral segments    -   18 Pivot axes    -   19 Floor    -   20 Supply device    -   21 Fan    -   21 a Air stream    -   22 Deflecting device    -   22 a Distribution plate    -   22 b Bars    -   23 Delivery channel    -   24 Screw conveyor    -   25 Arrow of the rotational movement of the screw conveyor    -   26 Control device    -   27 Deflection device    -   27 a Deflection drive    -   27 b Connecting rods    -   28 Arrow for the oscillating movement of the deflection drive    -   29 Arrow for the oscillating movement of the connecting rod    -   30 Microprocessor    -   31 Storage medium    -   32 First edge section    -   33 Second edge section    -   34 Bottom section    -   G Direction of gravity    -   EG Harvested material to be segregated    -   K Portion of grain    -   NKB Portion of non-grain components

Each of the items listed above may be associated with a singleelectronic device or may be combined within a single electronic device.Further, with regard to each separate electronic device,processing/memory functionality may be included.

The methods, devices, processing, circuitry, and logic described abovemay be implemented in many different ways and in many differentcombinations of hardware and software. As discussed above, amicroprocessor 30 and a storage medium 31 may be used. Themicroprocessor 30 and a storage medium 31 are merely one example of acomputational configuration. Other types of computational configurationsare contemplated. For example, all or parts of the implementations maybe circuitry that includes a type of controller, including as aninstruction processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU),microcontroller, or a microprocessor; or as an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA); or as circuitry that includes discretelogic or other circuit components, including analog circuit components,digital circuit components or both; or any combination thereof. Thecircuitry may include discrete interconnected hardware components or maybe combined on a single integrated circuit die, distributed amongmultiple integrated circuit dies, or implemented in a Multiple ChipModule (MCM) of multiple integrated circuit dies in a common package, asexamples.

Accordingly, the circuitry may store or access instructions forexecution, or may implement its functionality in hardware alone. Theinstructions may implement the functionality described herein and may bestored in a tangible storage medium that is other than a transitorysignal, such as a flash memory, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a ReadOnly Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM); oron a magnetic or optical disc, such as a Compact Disc Read Only Memory(CDROM), Hard Disk Drive (HDD), or other magnetic or optical disk; or inor on another machine-readable medium. A product, such as a computerprogram product, may include a storage medium and instructions stored inor on the medium, and the instructions when executed by the circuitry ina device may cause the device to implement any of the processingdescribed above or illustrated in the drawings.

The implementations may be distributed. For instance, the circuitry mayinclude multiple distinct system components, such as multiple processorsand memories, and may span multiple distributed processing systems.Parameters, databases, and other data structures may be separatelystored and managed, may be incorporated into a single memory ordatabase, may be logically and physically organized in many differentways, and may be implemented in many different ways. Exampleimplementations include linked lists, program variables, hash tables,arrays, records (e.g., database records), objects, and implicit storagemechanisms. Instructions may form parts (e.g., subroutines or other codesections) of a single program, may form multiple separate programs, maybe distributed across multiple memories and processors, and may beimplemented in many different ways. Example implementations includestand-alone programs, and as part of a library, such as a shared librarylike a Dynamic Link Library (DLL). The library, for example, may containshared data and one or more shared programs that include instructionsthat perform any of the processing described above or illustrated in thedrawings, when executed by the circuitry.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood asan illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not asa definition of the invention. It is only the following claims,including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of theclaimed invention. Finally, it should be noted that any aspect of any ofthe preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or incombination with one another.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combine harvester comprising: an infeedarrangement configured to receive harvested material, the harvestedmaterial comprising crop; a threshing device configured to degrain theharvested material, wherein the threshing device is configured togenerate a first portion of harvested material and a second portion ofharvested material, the first portion of harvested material includesmore grain than straw and the second portion of harvested materialincludes more straw than grain; and a cleaning device positioneddownstream from the threshing device and configured to separate grainfrom non-grain components, the cleaning device comprising one or morecomponents, a sieve device defining a rotational axis, and an at leastsectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket comprising a plurality ofperipheral segments that extends in a peripheral direction around therotational axis, wherein the one or more components of the cleaningdevice simultaneously move the sieve jacket in both a rotary movementand an oscillating movement, wherein the one or more components rotatethe sieve device about the rotational axis, the rotational axis of thesieve device in a direction of gravity or oblique to the direction ofgravity; and wherein the one or more components move the sieve jacket inthe oscillating movement by moving the plurality of peripheral segmentsof the sieve jacket in a swinging movement about a pivot axis associatedwith the plurality of peripheral segments.
 2. The combine harvester ofclaim 1, wherein each respective peripheral segment includes a firstedge section and a second edge section, wherein the second edge sectionis opposite the first edge section; wherein the pivot axis associatedwith the respective peripheral segment goes through the first edgesection of the respective peripheral segment; and wherein the swingingmovement is greater on the second edge section than on the first edgesection of the respective peripheral segment.
 3. The combine harvesterof claim 2, wherein each respective peripheral segment is attached to atleast two adjacent peripheral segments at the first edge section.
 4. Thecombine harvester of claim 1, wherein the rotational axis and the pivotaxis are oblique to one another; and wherein the rotational axis and thepivot axis intersect below a floor of the cleaning device, the floororthogonal to a direction of rotation; and wherein the swinging movementfor the at least one of the peripheral segments swings the at least oneof the peripheral segments toward the rotational axis and away from therotational axis in a back-and-forth movement.
 5. The combine harvesterof claim 1, wherein the pivot axis and the rotational axis lie in acommon plane.
 6. The combine harvester of claim 1, wherein the pivotaxis is parallel to the rotational axis of the sieve device.
 7. Thecombine harvester of claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is configuredto subject each of the peripheral segments of the sieve jacket to theswinging movement about the pivot axis associated with a respectiveperipheral segment; wherein each of the peripheral segments of the sievejacket are subject, at least partly simultaneously, to the swingingmovement and the rotary movement; and wherein the swinging movement ofthe peripheral segments are executed in sync.
 8. The combine harvesterof claim 7, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a deflectiondevice configured to generate an oscillating pivoting movement of eachof the peripheral segments.
 9. The combine harvester of claim 8, whereinthe deflection device comprises an oscillating rotatable drive pulleyand connecting rods, with a respective connecting rod connected to asection of a respective peripheral segment, the section proximate to afloor of the cleaning device.
 10. The combine harvester of claim 1,wherein the cleaning device comprises a supply device configured tosupply the harvested material into an interior of the sieve device; andwherein the supply device includes an axial delivery channel and arotating, axially running screw conveyor, the axial delivery channel forsupplying the harvested material into the interior of the sieve device.11. The combine harvester of claim 1, wherein the cleaning devicecomprises at least one of a supply device, a fan or a diverting device;and wherein the at least one of the supply device, the fan or thediverting device is oriented relative to the sieve device such that theharvested material is first introduced axially in a direction of abottom end of the sieve device, and thereafter diverted radially to anoutside in a region of the bottom end of the sieve device, andthereafter at least a part of the harvested material is conveyed awayaxially or parallel to an inner surface of the sieve jacket from thebottom end of the sieve device, and thereafter the grain passes throughthe sieve jacket radially to the outside and, at a top end of the sievedevice, the non-grain components are removed therefrom.
 12. The combineharvester of claim 1, wherein the rotational axis of the sieve deviceruns in a direction of gravity or is oblique to the direction ofgravity.
 13. The combine harvester of claim 1, wherein a radial positionof the rotational axis of the sieve device is stationary relative to thethreshing device during the swinging movement of the sieve jacket. 14.The combine harvester of claim 1, wherein the one or more componentscomprise a deflection drive.
 15. The combine harvester of claim 14,wherein the deflection drive include rods connected to the plurality ofperipheral segments.
 16. The combine harvester of claim 1, wherein theone or more components comprise a rotatable drive pulley.
 17. Thecombine harvester of claim 1, wherein the one or more componentscomprise an oscillating device and connecting means for connecting theoscillating device to the plurality of peripheral segments.
 18. Thecombine harvester of claim 1, wherein the one or more componentscomprise an oscillating rotatable drive device and connecting means forconnecting the oscillating rotatable drive device to the plurality ofperipheral segments.
 19. A combine harvester comprising: an infeedarrangement configured to receive harvested material, the harvestedmaterial comprising crop; a threshing device configured to degrain theharvested material, wherein the threshing device is configured togenerate a first portion of harvested material and a second portion ofharvested material, the first portion of harvested material includesmore grain than straw and the second portion of harvested materialincludes more straw than grain; and a cleaning device positioneddownstream from the threshing device and configured to separate grainfrom non-grain components, the cleaning device comprising a sieve deviceconfigured to rotate about a rotational axis and an at least sectionallysieve-shaped sieve jacket comprising a plurality of peripheral segmentsthat extends in a peripheral direction around the rotational axis,wherein the cleaning device is configured to subject the sieve jacket toa rotary movement, wherein the cleaning device is configured to subjectat least one of the peripheral segments of the sieve jacket to aswinging movement about a pivot axis associated with the at least one ofthe peripheral segments, and wherein the at least one of the peripheralsegments of the sieve jacket is subject, at least partly simultaneously,to the rotary movement and the swinging movement, wherein the cleaningdevice further includes a deflecting device in an interior of the sievedevice, the deflective device configured to deflect and accelerate in aradial direction the harvested material introduced into the sievedevice; and wherein the deflective device comprises a rotating deliveryplate which has radially running bars, at least sectionally, on at leastone side, or a rotating scraper and an associated acceleration plate.20. The combine harvester of claim 19, wherein the cleaning devicecomprises a supply device configured to supply the harvested materialinto an interior of the sieve device, the supply device includes anaxial delivery channel and a rotating, axially running screw conveyor,the axial delivery channel for supplying the harvested material into theinterior of the sieve device; and wherein the delivery plate or thescraper is arranged at an axial distance from the axial delivery channeland is connected to rotate conjointly with the screw conveyor.
 21. Acombine harvester comprising: means for receiving harvested material,the harvested material comprising crop; means for degraining theharvested material by generating a first portion of harvested materialand a second portion of harvested material, the first portion ofharvested material includes more grain than straw and the second portionof harvested material includes more straw than grain; and means forseparating grain from non-grain components, the means for separatinggrain from non-grain components positioned downstream from the means fordegraining the harvested material, the means for separating grain fromnon-grain components comprising a sieve device defining a rotationalaxis and an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket comprising aplurality of peripheral segments that extends in a peripheral directionaround the rotational axis, wherein the means for separating grain fromnon-grain components subjects the sieve jacket to a rotary movement,wherein the means for separating grain from non-grain componentssubjects at least one of the peripheral segments of the sieve jacket toa swinging movement about a pivot axis associated with the at least oneof the peripheral segments such that the at least one of the peripheralsegments of the sieve jacket is subjected, at least partlysimultaneously, to the rotary movement and the swinging movement.